Sheet-glass apparatus



Aug. 7, 1928.

Y J. c. BLAIR SHEET GLASS APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1926 gnwnl'or obmea C. B/a/n Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. BLAIR, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE LIBBEY-OWENS SHEET GLASS COMPANY, OF TOLEDO. OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SHEET-GLASS APPARATUS.

Application filed June 24, 1926. Serial No. 118,159.

The present invention relates to sheetglass apparatus.

An important object of the invention is to provide a process and an apparatus for producing sheet lass of a uniform and sub stantially pre etermined thickness.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein a sheet is flowed on a slab and including means for reducing the sheet, after it leaves or as it leaves the slab, to a substantially predetermined thickness.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sheet glass apparatus wherein molten glass, flowing from a receptacle under the head pressure of the glass in said receptacle, is passed down a slab in sheet form, the sheet having a thickness substantiall greater than the desired thickness of finished sheet, the apparatus including means for reducing the said sheet to the proper thickness.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein a sheet is flowed down an inclined slab under the head pressure of its source, the apparatus includmg a pair of rolls arranged at the end of the slab, creating a sheet forming pass through which the sheet from the slab asses to be reduced to a predetermined thic ess.

Still another object of the invention is to arovide an apparatus wherein a sheet is iowed down an inclined slab under the head pressure of its source, the apparatus includmg a. pair of rolls arranged at the end of the slab, creating a sheet forming pass through which the sheet from the slab asses to be reduced to a predetermined thic ess, a straight line through the axes of the rolls being substantially at right angles to the plane of said slab.

The drawing shows a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through my improved machine. In the drawing the numeral 5 designates a receptacle a apted to be continuously supplied with a source of molten glass 6. Arranged below the surface 7 of the glass is an adjustable slab 8, preferably formed from a non-corrosive metal such as nichrome, Monel, stellite, etc., although of course the slab may be formed from cast iron or the like. The slab 8 is provided with temperature control means such as the burner 9. slab, preferably at. the end thereof nearest the receptacle 5, is an adjustable gate 10. preferably formed from a heat resisting non-corrosive metal, and being provided with an internal chamber capable of being heated by means of the burner or the like 11. The gate 10 is adjustahly mounted and is adapted to control the quantity of glass permitted to flow from the receptacle It will be seen that the slab 8 and the lower edge of the gate 10 forms a slotor opening through which a stream of glass 12 flows under the head pressure of the molten mass 6. A sheet of substantial thickness 12' is thus permitted to flow down the slab S. Arranged at the end of the slab 8 is a pair of positively driven rotatable rolls 14 adapted to form a sheet forming pass through which the sheet or body of glass 13 passes to reduce the same to a sheet 15 of substantially uniform and predetermined thickness. The sheet 15 is then passed through an annealing leer 16 to gradually reduce it to room temperatures, being supported in the leer by means of conveyor rolls 17.

A cooler 18 is provided at the juncture of the receptacle 5 and the slab 8 to freeze what little glass tends to leak therebetween. The rolls 14 are mounted in a suitable frame 19 in a manner that the space between the two rolls may be varied to permit the formation of different thicknesses of sheets of glass. The rolls are positively driven through means of the gear arrangement 20, while the adjustment between the rolls is controlled by the means 21. The rolls and slab are mounted in a suitable bracket 22, supported on a base 23 adjustable vertically by means of the jack screws 24.

The sheet of glass produced by this construction is relatively very flat and of a predetermined thickness, and is therefore particularl' well adapted for use as a plate glass blank. An adjustable shear cake 2? may be placed in the molten glass 6 to skim the glass before it is flowed through the opening between the gate 10 and slab 8.

Arranged above the It is to be understood that the form of the be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Claims:

1, In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, a slab associated with the receptacle, means for flowing a relatively thick sheet of glass down the slab, and a pair of rolls arranged at the end of the slab for reducing the sheet in thickness, and means for moving the slab and rolls simultaneously.

2. In sheet glass apparatus, containin a mass of molten glass, a slab associate with said receptacle for receiving the molten glass therefrom, an adjustable gate for controlling the amount of glass flowing onto the slab, means for internally heating said we, and means for reducing the glass to a substantially predetermined thickness as it leaves the slab.

3. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, a slab associated with said receptacle for receiving the molten glass therefrom, an adjustable gate for controlling the amount of glass flowing onto the slab, means for internally heating said gate, means for reducing the glass to a substantially predetermined thickness as it leaves the slab, and means for adjusting the slab and rolls simultaneously.

4. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, a slab for receiving the molten glass therefrom, an adjustable gate associated with said slab to form a glass outlet, heating means for creata receptacle ing a flame within said gate and directin it toward said outlet, and means for reduc i ng the glass to a substantially predetermined thickness as it leaves the slab.

5. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, a slab for receiving the molten glass therefrom. an adjustable gate associated with said slab to form a glass outlet, heating means for creating a flame within said gate and directing it toward said outlet, means or reducing the glass to a substantially predetermined thickness as it leaves the slab, and means for moving the slab and rolls simultaneously.

6. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, a slab associated with said receptacle, means for flowing a sheet of lass down the slab. a pair of rolls for reiIucing the tlllCkflU S of said sheet as it leaves the end of the slab, a bracket carrying both the slab and rolls, and means for adjusting the bracket to move the slab and rolls simultaneously.

7. In sheet glass apparatus, a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, an inclined slab associated with the receptacle, means for (lowing asheet of glass down the slab, a pair of rolls arranged at the end of the slab for reducing the sheet to substan tially a predetermined thickness, means for simultaneously adjusting said slab and rolls, and means for adjusting said rolls only.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas, and State of Ohio, this 21st day of June,

JAMES C. BLAIR 

